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Prevalence and risk factors for chalazion in an older veteran population
  1. Sneh Patel1,2,
  2. Natalia Tohme3,
  3. Emmanuel Gorrin3,
  4. Naresh Kumar4,
  5. Brian Goldhagen1,2,
  6. Anat Galor1,2
  1. 1 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System, Miami, Florida, USA
  2. 2 Ophthalmology, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
  3. 3 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
  4. 4 Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Anat Galor, Ophthalmology, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33125, USA; agalor{at}med.miami.edu

Abstract

Background Chalazia are common inflammatory eyelid lesions, but their epidemiology remains understudied. This retrospective case–control study examined the prevalence, risk factors and geographic distribution of chalazia in a large veteran population.

Methods Data on all individuals seen at a Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic between October 2010 and October 2015 were extracted from the VA health database. Subjects were grouped based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code for chalazion. Univariable logistic regression modelling was used to identify clinical and demographic factors associated with chalazion presence, followed by multivariable modelling to examine which factors predicted risk concomitantly. All cases were mapped across the continental US using geographic information systems modelling to examine how prevalence rates varied geographically.

Results Overall, 208 720 of 3 453 944 (6.04%) subjects were diagnosed with chalazion during the study period. Prevalence was highest in coastal regions. The mean age of the population was 69.32±13.9 years and most patients were male (93.47%), white (77.13%) and non-Hispanic (93.72%). Factors associated with chalazion risk included smoking (OR=1.12, p<0.0005), conditions of the tear film (blepharitis (OR=4.84, p<0.0005), conjunctivitis (OR=2.78, p<0.0005), dry eye (OR=3.0, p<0.0005)), conditions affecting periocular skin (eyelid dermatitis (OR=2.95, p<0.0005), rosacea (OR=2.50, p<0.0005)), allergic conditions (history of allergies (OR=1.56, p<0.0005)) and systemic disorders (gastritis (OR=1.54, p<0.0005), irritable bowel syndrome (OR=1.45, p<0.0005), depression (OR=1.35, p<0.0005), anxiety (OR=1.31, p<0.0005)). These factors remained associated with chalazion risk when examined concomitantly.

Conclusion Periocular skin, eyelid margin and tear film abnormalities were most strongly associated with risk for chalazion. The impact of environmental conditions on risk for chalazion represents an area in need of further study.

  • epidemiology
  • eye lids
  • infection
  • COVID-19
  • cornea

Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

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Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

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Footnotes

  • Contributors Study design: NK, BG and AG. Data collection: NK, NT and EG. Analysis and interpretation: SP, NK and AG. Writing of report: SP, NT, EG, NK and AG. Revision of draft: NK and AG.

  • Funding This study was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Clinical Sciences R&D (grant number I01 CX002015 (AG)) and Biomedical Laboratory R&D Service (grant number I01 BX004893 (AG)), Department of Defense Gulf War Illness Research Program (grant number W81XWH-20-1-0579 (AG)) and Vision Research Program (grant number W81XWH-20-1-0820 (AG)), National Eye Institute (grant numbers R01EY026174 (AG and NK) and R61EY032468 (AG)), National Institute of Health (NIH) Center Core Grant (grant number P30EY014801) (institutional) and Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant (institutional).

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  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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